Pedestrian tunnel, Antwerp

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To get the best views of Antwerp's skyline you'll need to cross the river. I suppose you could always swim but the easy way to do it is to use the Sint Anna Pedestrian Tunnel, with its wooden escalators and 572 metre tile-walled foot/cycle path - http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/22f5f2/

Once on the left bank you get great views over the river and there's parks, cafes and a riverside footpath.

This is worth mentioning as well.

There are two flights of escalators to reach the tunnel. Though they are still steep and very long. No wonder the escalator system were built to descent the height of 30m.

What impresses though is the noise those escalators produced. They are wood escalators with quite same design as in the past. The whole set was built in the 1930's, so as the Art Deco building at right bank...

For those who don't fancy trying the ride, there is a lift within the building. Quite huge one since I saw many people entering it, with their bicycles. I read somewhere that it can hold 80 persons...

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This pedestrian tunnel goes under the river schelde to the leftbank. From this side of the river you have the best view on the skyline of Antwerp.
Also the tunnel itself is something worth while to visit. It was build in 1931-1933. It's 527 meters long and lies about 31 meters under the ground. To get there you have to take the elavator or the escalators. I defenitly would recommand the last one, because the are the originals from the 30's and made of wood. They're making a hell of a noise but are so classy.

The entrance is located on a small square called Sint-Jansvliet at the end of the Hoogstraat.

It's easy to overlook a thing like this, especially when you're heading for a city like Antwerpen. Still, I think this gem deserves some attention. This tunnel was built underneath the river Schelde in 1931-1933. It connects the old centre with the newer neighbourhoods at the Linkeroever (left bank). The tunnel is preserved as it was, with wooden escalators, old-fashioned warning plates, two stylish entrance buildings etc.. And NO graffiti, thankfully. Really something special. The list of things you're not allowed to do seems outdated too, but it's for a good purpose. No singing, shouting and spitting anyone. On the other hand, I can think of a few things they don't mention.

The tunnel is 527 metres long, and a trip to the left bank gives you a great view at the centre. See the big picture in my introduction.

Make a walk under the river Schelde through the pedestrian tunnel - Sint Anna Tunnel. This tunnel was built in 1931 and has not changed ever since. Even the old wooden escalators - very high (or low) and very steep - are still there.
This is really not a standard sightseeing thing to do, but at the left bank of the river you will be rewarded with the most beautiful view of Our Lady's Cathedral.

Still in Sint Anna tunnel, find this mosaic that tells you about some figures.

It says that the tunnel is 572m long.
... that it was driven at a depth of 31m below surface
... that its internal diameter is of 4.30 meters
... and that external diameters is of 4.74 meters.

An underground passage uses to link left and right banks of Scheldt river. It is Sint Anna voetgangers tunnel or... Sint Anna pedestrian tunnel.

On street level, you will have to enter an Art Deco station (like a metro station). Then take the escalators to go underground. There are two flights of long escalators. They are tackling with quite steep descent. For me, it was a bit strange to see the height we had to go through. This is one reason there are two escalators instead of only one, though taking them separately is a even bit scary.

Later, you will reach this tunnel, at about 31meter deep. As you can see, bicycles are allowed to let you reach the left bank.

There is a pedestrian tunnel under the river. It's quite an antiquity, and especially the escalators which are old and wooden. The tunnel is about 1/2km long, and from the other side you can get good views back to the city.

If you follow the street Hoogstraat from Grote Markt you will after a couple of minutes walk get to a small square called Sint-Jansvliet. On this square you can see a small white building. This is the entrance to the pedestrian tunnel which brings you to the other side of the river. The tunnel is about 570 m long and was finished in 1933. The original wooden escalators brings you down below the river. From the other side of Schelde (Linker-oever) you have a beautiful view of the city-center. But also if you find this walk too far, it's amazing just to let the old escalators bring you down and up again.

Sint Anna Tunnel
This is a pedestrian tunnel complete with old wooden escalator built in 1931. It goes underneath the River Scheldt and even if you don't go use it, have a look at the old escalator, it's quite interesting.